John (James) Plantain was a pirate who, after raiding shipping in the Indian Ocean with Edward England’s crew, settled at Ranter Bay in Madagascar and established himself as a local ruler over the surrounding population. He built alliances and conflicts with neighboring Malagasy groups during nearly a decade in power. A revolt by those under his rule forced him out around 1728, after which no further reliable record of him exists.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | John Plantain |
|---|---|
| Aliases | James Plantain; King of Ranter Bay |
| Born | c. 1700 (unverified) |
| Died | unknown |
| Nationality | English (Jamaican) |
| Years Active | 1720-1728 |
| Known Ships | Victory |
| Fate | Overthrown as ruler of his self-declared kingdom at Ranter Bay, Madagascar, by a revolt around 1728; fled to India, after which his fate is unknown |
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